Top 5 Reasons I Use Medical Marijuana

By Raven Evans (Guest Writer) –

Up front, this topic might be a little on the edge because so many states and places in the world, unfortunately, do not consider pot, dope, weed, marijuana, cannabis, ganja, kush, or any of the wonderful names legal for medicinal use.

I started using marijuana for medical purposes about 2 years ago. In that time, I’ve found that my experience of using marijuana has impacted my body in many positive ways and has allowed me to live a better, more fulfilled quality of life.

Medical marijuana, at the time of writing this article, is legal in 29 US states, and recreationally legal in 9. All states currently permit the use of cannabidiol, also known as CBD, which is a compound of the cannabis plant that is non-psychoactive but delivers many medical benefits.

Marijuana has been known to help and possibly cure many ailments including cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, and many other conditions. It has been used as a medicine dating back to ancient times, from India to Africa to South America. Historians have noted that the first documented use of the plant as medicine dates back to 2737 B.C. in China.

Today, after several years of being taboo, society is finally opening back up to the idea of marijuana being medicinal instead of just a recreational drug to “get high.” It has helped thousands to millions of people live a life that feels more normal — me included.

These are just the top reasons that I choose to smoke cannabis:

1. I can actually think.

When I am under the influence of marijuana, I can actually think, not concentrate. Concentrating is for later when it hurts. When I’m high I can think. My mind comes up with the most amazing things. Because thoughts are things.

When I’m not high, I can concentrate on those things and expand on them. When I’m not high, the pain is too much, and I can think of nothing else but the pain. It overrides every other thought I could be possibly thinking. Not only that, it helps to stop that feeling like your brain won’t shut up.

2. Alleviates my chronic pain.

This includes muscle spasms, nerve pain, arthritis, and many other symptoms. Cannabis has been known worldwide since the beginning of time to help with chronic pain in many different cultures — basically since the plant was created. Notice how I said ‘created,’ not ‘manufactured.’ This is a natural remedy, not something created by man and naturally flawed.

It has also been known to prevent peoplefrom becoming opioid dependent. A lot of chronic pain sufferers are prescribed opioids which can cause a whole other list of disadvantages like sedation, confusion, nausea, vomiting, constipation, pruritus (itching), respiratory depression, and urinary retention.

3. I get migraine relief.

I am also a chronic migraine sufferer. This is actually how I was introduced to weed and how I found out it helps. It shushes the migraine and provides relief within just a few minutes. Trying weed was long after a trying so many “society approved” types of meds and even a couple of surgeries. This is what works for me and many others.

Cannabis has been known to help ease migraine symptoms and possibly keep migraine symptoms at bay. Per a recent study participants have shown that almost 40% of subjects reported positive effects and that the average number of migraine headaches decreased from 10.4 per month to 4.6. For migraine sufferers this is HUGE!

4. Helps to ease nausea.

I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Us EDS-ers take a lot of medications to help cope with the comorbidities and/or symptoms we experience, not to mention just regular ol’ nausea caused by chronic pain. We all know cannabis causes the munchies. That is probably one of the most well-known facts of all.

Marijuana tricks the brain by increasing the production of cannabinoids and lipids that stimulate our appetite, whether we’re full of food or not. When one of those comorbidities is Diabetes, eating is a crucial part of everyday life to help keep blood sugar level. When you are nauseated, food is the last thing on your mind, so much so, some are less concerned with eating as much as the discomfort nausea causes.

5. Stops my insomnia in its tracks.

Last but not least, cannabis helps me with insomnia. Basically, smoking marijuana allows me to sleep. If I don’t smoke, I can’t go to sleep easily. I can be tired, yawning, and feeling exhausted all day but when I lay down to go to sleep, nothing. Sweet sleep evades me once more.

When I smoke, within just a matter of minutes my brain can slow down enough to sleep. It can also increase the quality of sleep and decrease the likelihood of nightmares. Without sleep, our bodies have a more difficult coping with pain, joining back in on the chronic pain roller coaster.

These are just the “Top 5 Reasons” I use medical marijuana, but there are so many other reasons why it helps people all over the world. More on that later.